Son of former Split Enz drummer wanted by Oz police

Ex-cop and internet commentator Susan McLean says Tristan Barker 'has no concept of common decency and is a blight on society'. Photo / Kerry Grant

The son of a former Split Enz drummer is under investigation by Australian police for internet stalking and is said to be "inciting hatred" online from his New Zealand home.

Tristan Barker, 18, is wanted for questioning by Melbourne police for encouraging his alleged 300,000 Facebook followers to ridicule people, including murder victims and some who have committed suicide as a result of online bullying. But Melbourne police are unable to interview him because he is back in Rotorua living with his dad, Michael Barker, a former drummer from bands Split Enz and the John Butler Trio.

In one of his posts, about the Colorado movie theatre shootings last year that claimed 12 lives, Tristan Barker called it a "social experiment".

"I don't give a f*** about the victims, I don't give a f*** about their families, I don't care, no one should care," he wrote on Facebook. He went on to request Americans "end themselves".

"I wanted to see if you could create disgust," he said this week.

Barker gained notoriety early last year after trolling the Facebook page of pop star Nicki Minaj with an abusive rant that attracted more than 100,000 "likes".

In another rant, Barker called on his followers to harass Muslim families by making prank telephone calls.

He said he used White Pages to search for a family with the Ibrahim surname and phoned to joke a packet of bacon had been placed on the family's doorstep.

"I picked one at random," he said. "It was hilarious." Followers of Barker made similar calls at his request.

Detective Senior Constable Rodney Andrew, from Melbourne police, said their inquiry had stalled as Barker was out of the country.

Netsafe executive director Martin Cocker said it was his opinion that Barker's actions were "inciting acts of hatred".

"The internet is empowering everybody, including those who have a message we'd rather not hear," he said.

Internet trolls tried to get attention and a response from people by being as offensive and outrageous as possible, he said.

"There's always a group of people in society who want to do that, who don't have a way of achieving recognition in a positive way."

Cocker advised people to not engage with trolls.

Justice Minister Judith Collins is expected to outline new measures to curb cyber-bullying within the next few weeks.

The minister had earlier asked the Law Commission to fast-track a review of the laws around telecommunications and the internet.

In Australia, ex-police officer and internet commentator Susan McLean said she believed Barker was "Australia's most prolific troll".

"He has no concept of common decency and is a blight on society."